Interview

So I had my interview today.
I think it went really well, but you can never tell. I know I looked pretty snazzy because about ten people told me so, but hopefully my interviewers thought so. One good thing is if I get it I won't start until 2008, but I may not find anything out until 2008. I am glad though because I want to be able to celebrate Christmas with my team AND I have the week after Christmas off, so I definitely want to keep that. I am still planning on working on my book during Christmas and the cool thing is I will be off from Christmas Day until the day after New Years. That will be fun.

Check out my new kicks!!

Yippee for Christmas

I just found out today that everyone in my family is coming to Louisville for Christmas. I knew my parents were coming, but I didn't know that my brother, Matt and his wife, Melisa are coming in with their two little girls. I haven't spent Christmas with my family in three years-so I am psyched. Well I won't be spending Christmas Day with them, but we are actually having "Christmas" on Sunday night, but I'll take it any way that I can get it!!

On another note I have an interview tomorrow. Wahoo!! It is a follow up to a previous interview I had a month ago. Cross your fingers.

Meaningless, Meaningless, Everything Is Meaningless

It's amazing how your life can change at the blink of an eye. I can remember the past couple of years dreading to get that phone call, "Your grandma has died." or "Your grandpa has died." It got to the point that every time the phone rang I thought it was bad news, because let's face it in my house that's usually what it ended up being.

Tonight I got a similar phone call. My dad left me a message asking me to call him when I got a chance. My dad's tone is sometimes hard to read over the phone, but I could tell that it was not good news. When I called him he told me that my uncle-his brother, Todd had been found dead in the basement of the people's house he was living in on Friday morning-the irony of all ironies, Black Friday. While people were rushing out to get their hands on stuff they could give their loved ones for Christmas my uncle lie dead in the basement.

The funeral is probably going to be later this week. It is going to be about two hours southwest of St. Louis, so due to my I.C. I will not be able to attend (among other things). My grandma is planning the funeral, which in and of itself means the day will be interesting to say the least.

My dad mentioned that he felt like the writer of Ecclesiastes. I don't remember which verse he quoted, but when all that has happened to him and my mom-he wouldn't have needed to mention a particular verse to know it was true. What is most admirable about my father is that he has experienced all of the things of this world has to offer and has come to the conclusion that everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. He has been estranged from his mother, experienced the death of his father, my mother's father and mother (who were like parents to him), been a partner to his wife while she battled breast cancer and still says with Job, "Though he slay me, yet I will hope in him." In his youth (in this day and age mid fifties is still considered young) he has remembered his creator and in the days of trouble God has found that his faith-of greater worth than gold-proved genuine and one day will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. He is receiving the goal of his faith, the salvation of his soul.

So as my father buries his younger brother I know my dad will look up to the sky, with tears glistening in his eyes and say, "May God be glorified." And I know He will.

Your Mother Has Cancer

So I have typed 30 pages of my book, which may be titled, "Your Mother Has Cancer". Let's call it a working title. Frankly I'm not sure if it is any good-it's not like I have publishers on my doorstep waiting to print my latest writings, but everyone has to start somewhere. The only thing about it-which I knew would happen, but was hoping wouldn't-I have to go back into who I was a year ago to get the proper emotion on paper. So it tends to put me in a pensive and somewhat sad mood. It's not an autobiography-no where near close, but it is based loosely on my life. The funny thing is that I am concerned about putting too much of my personal life in it-like if I say something and my parents think I am talking about them for real how will they take that? The pretty cool thing is they are open to talk about most things, so I would probably have an in depth discussion with then before it gets anywhere near the press.

If you would like to read a portion of it and give me your thoughts you can leave me your e-mail and I trust you not to steal my ideas (ha!) then I will e-mail you a couple of pages. I am not sure I will have any takers since I am not sure I will have anyone read this post, but if you read it and want me to send you a few pages I will be more than happy to do so.

The really funny thing is I have a book I started in college that is already 80 pages long. So maybe that will be my second book if I can get the first one published. I probably have more since I wrote in these notebooks all through high school. I have also toyed with the idea of a commentary or a theological book, but I'm not sure at this point in my life I have the patience for that. People who read theology books are much more critical than those who read fiction books. Trust me I know this because I have been a reader of theology books and have been around people who read theology books...I'm just not sure I am willing to put myself out there yet.

So I'll close this post so I can get back to writing my book.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The day started with me getting up at 12:00. It was a pretty good feeling to go to bed at 1:00 the night before and wake up at 12:00. So that is the first thing of the day that I was thankful for. The second thing was that my husband actually agreed to go see the new Disney movie, "Enchanted" this afternoon. It is only because it got a 92% on So we are going to see the 4:15 showing of that movie. I am also thankful that the Chinese buffet we normally go to was closed, so we ended up going to a really good sit down Chinese Resturaunt. I thought we might be the only one there, but we did not eat Thanksgiving alone. There was probably about 50 people and most of them were Chinese or Japaneze. We got fortune cookies there. I wasn't sure what to make out of mine, but I was thankful for John Mark's fortune, "Your spouses bills are yours and yours are yours." I thought that was pretty funny. I am hoping to work on my book later today, but I am thankful that it is not my real job so I don't have to if I don't want to.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

And if you haven't had a laugh today check out my nostrils. We were laughing so hard I was crying because the cat didn't like the Thanksgiving family picture too much.

Turkey Day

Well, Turkey day is almost here. I have enjoyed my week off so far. I bought a Pilates DVD at Half Price Books and have been doing that every morning. Monday I spent most of the day working on my book. I believe I have 20 pages, which doesn't seem very impressive, but it's hard work! Tuesday I went to get my hair cut, to Target, grocery shopping, to the library, back to the grocery store and had a candle lit dinner on the table by 8:00. How do I do it (I was actually so exhausted I wanted to cry). Today I set up a play date with my nephew, Jonathan and a little girl, Abigail from church. My sister and Abby's mom exchanged stories. I made chicken quesadillas which were pretty much the bomb. We just got back from the mall and I am pretty tired. The exciting thing is John Mark was supposed to get off at 8:00 again, but they are letting them leave after they do their 5:00 report. That was pretty exciting for me. We don't have any plans for tomorrow. We are actually having Thanksgiving dinner at a Chinese Buffet. I know it sounds pathetic, but don't knock it until you try it. I did make a pumpkin pie last night, which I have to say it is pretty good. So, Turkey Day is going to be more like Sweet and Sour Chicken day for me and that makes me perfectly content...you just don't know how much I love Chinese food.

Tis the Season

Yes this is my Christmas tree from this year. Yes it is already up. We put it up today. That is one thing I love about fake Christmas trees. I figure if you go to all of that hard work putting it up, you may as well keep it up for awhile. Plus growing up it was the Friday after Thanksgiving that we would all get together at my grandma and grandpa Allen's house and decorate their trees. We would play cards and the guys would watch football. Those were such good memories.

I am hoping this year I will have good memories about the holidays. Last year about this time I would have been to two of my mom's chemotherapy sessions. I would have also been to my grandma Thomson's funeral. I would also be developing what I thought was a bladder infection, but it turned out to be something much worse. But this year I have much to be thankful for. My mom is in perfect health. I am dealing with a chronic illness and learning to cope with it and my husband will not have to work crazy overtime this holiday season!

So I have many reason to say "Tis the season to be jolly" and many reason to want to put my tree up early so I can enjoy it until New Years!! God has truly blessed me this holiday season.

So I should really stop watching "America's Next Top Model" because I always want to take pictures of myself when I watch it. Although I am not sure what else you could take pictures of on this thing. Maybe a family photo? I doubt it.

Anyway-I am officially off this week. I am supposed to start my book. I haven't started it, but I will. Maybe I will post sneak peeks on here...maybe. We will have to see.

What else are we doing? Tuesday I am getting my hair cut. Just a couple of inches. Wednesday I am going to the mall with my sister and a friend from church. Thursday we are going to Chinese Buffet for our Thanksgiving meal. My mouth is already watering. I am sure I will watch lots of movies too.

Happy Gilmore

So this was me today when I got home from a long day at work...well not really because I went to a pretty cool workshop all day where they had an open bar at cocktail hour at the end (though I was driving so I couldn't partake-but the thought made me happy), but I was prepared to come home and figure out what I was eating for dinner...and then this came. Yes Folks, Gilmore Girls Season Seven...and my frown turned upside down. It is sad but true, but I am addicted. Everyone wants to be a Gilmore. Let's just say I know what I'm going to be doing this Thanksgiving.

To John Mark

Calling You
Blue October

There's something that i cant quite explain
i'm so in love with you
you'll never take that away

and if i said a hundred times before
expect a thousand more
you never take that away

well expect me to be
calling you to see
if you're ok when i'm not around
asking if you love me
i love the way you make it sound
calling you to see
do i try too hard to make you smile
to make a smile

well i will keep calling you to see
if you're sleepin'

are you dreamin' and
if you're dreamin' are you dreamin' of me
i cant believe
you actually picked...me

i thought that the world had lost its sway
(its so hard sometimes)
then i fell in love with you
(then came you)
and you took that away
(its not so difficult, the world is not so difficult)
you take away the old
show me the new
and i feel like i can fly
when i stand next to you
so what if I'm on this phone
a hundred miles from home
i take the words you gave
and send them back to you

i only want to see
if you're ok when i'm not around
asking if you love me
i love the way you make it sound
calling you to see
do i try too hard to make you smile
to make a smile

i will keep calling you to see
if you're sleepin' are you dreamin' and
if you're dreamin' are you dreamin' of me
i cant believe
you actually picked...me

well i will keep calling you to see
if you're sleepin' are you dreamin' and
if you're dreamin' are you dreamin' of me
i cant believe
you actually picked...me

i will keep calling you to see
if you're sleepin' are you dreamin' and
if you're dreamin' are you dreamin' of me
i cant believe
you actually picked...me

Another Exciting Day

Well I am a little behind on my daily postings, but I'm not sure it really matters because I'm not sure anyone reads these things. I guess that means I can say whatever I want and it won't get back to anyone. Well...that probably isn't quite true.

Let's see. We had a busy morning at work, but the afternoon slowed down quite a bit. I was just glad it was Friday. We went to eat dinner at my sister-in-law's house. I had a sandwich from Panera Bread and everyone else had lasagna. So yeah it pretty much sucks to be me since I cannot have the delectable Italian cuisine. They also had chocolate cake, which I couldn't eat either, but at least I could have the vanilla icecream.

Tomorrow is Saturday. I have a lot of running to do and catching up from a busy week in house work (wait, what is that?) It is kind of funny that I thought when I got married I would have a pristine sparkly clean house, but then the real world happened. It's not a dump, but I don't remember the last time we vaccumed or dusted. We have vacuumed more than we have dusted though.

Well I had better close this because I don't have anything else to say right now, but there may be a more though provoking entry tomorrow it I take the time to do what was on my mind at 7:30 this morning.

So What About the Cat

Anyone who has an animal knows that they are pretty much like a child. You have to feed them and pet them and pay attention to them or else you get the cold shoulder (although in some ways I might have just described your spouse). In a way yes they are just an animal...but on the other hand they are a part of the family. I will find myself asking JM at lunch or IMing him at work (don't tell my boss!) "Did you feed the cat?" When you think about it what would you do if you didn't feed the cat? It's not like you could call in sick so you could go home and feed the cat...and cats are pretty self sufficient that they could survive without one meal. So why do you even ask yourself these questions. Honestly I'm not sure, but I know it will be a very sad day when my cat dies. I have had her since I was 16. She is a pretty healthy 11 year old cat. I actually told JM that we would definitely be getting another cat within a week after Toto dies. It is kind of like when you have an old grandparent and you are waiting for them to kick the bucket, but you can't replace your grandparents. I am not trying to be morbid, but if you have experience three of your grandparent's deaths in the past six years you would understand. Still it will be a sad day. Poor Kitty.

Daily Grind

Back to the daily grind today. I can't believe Thanksgiving is in two weeks!! Actually my vacation is in nine working days. Wahoo!! Not much happened today. We were pretty busy and my back still hurts a little bit. Which is why I am keeping it short. I am about to go lay on the couch until it is time to go to bed. I'm such a lazy bum!!

P.S. If someone could help me to put my freakin' frackin' pic on here I would be very appreciative. I am not vain (well maybe a little), but I just like how everyone else has a cool picture and I always get errors.

Black Dahlia...Not for the Faint at Heart

I watched the Black Dahlia last night...alone in my bedroom. It is a good movie and love Scarlett Johanssen, but it is freakin' creepy/scarey. It was about the grusome murder of a lesbian in the 1930s or 40s. Anyway, I had nightmares all night (not really about that subject) and I am tired today. I am also sore, but I think that has more to do with the pulled back muscle than anything. Well I'd better go. I should be getting ready for church so I feel like I should be reading my Bible or something rather than writing blogs on the internet. Whatever.

Pulled Back Muscle and a Star Award

Today was a very interesting day of sorts.

The first thing of the day was that I decided to fix my hair at work. I do that a lot because I let me hair air dry and sometimes it is still a little damp when I leave in the morning. I had my head down with my hair hanging down (you know what I mean) and I sprayed my hair and scrunched it-just like I do every day. When I was done and flung my head back...ouch what was that. Yes that's right folks, I pulled a back muscle. I could feel my spine ache when I moved my head back and forth and my chest hurt too. I went to the break room and sat down. I called John Mark to tell him what I did and then hung up the phone. Ten seconds later I felt faint. I am not a fainting girl, but I started feeling hot and sweaty and dizzy. I called John Mark again and asked him to come to the break room. I seriously thought I was going to have to go home for the day. I didn't eat breakfast this morning (I usually eat it when I get to work), so I ate some cereal and felt a little better. It took about 15 to 20 minutes for me to feel like myself, but I felt a little better after that. It was pretty freaky. I feel much better now, but I am currently watching "Ugly Betty" with frozen corn on my back.

That wasn't the only surprise I got today. At about 1:30 my manager, supervisor, and a couple of other managers and supervisors came to my desk asking if I could "join" them. I stood there and waited awkwardly for them to tell me what this was about. Several of my phone reps came over and we all stood there. My manager presented me with the North Star Award for an enhancement I proposed to the system we use that was actually approved by corporate. He read all of these nice things about me and gave me a leter that said I woud have a big fat bonus on my next paycheck. This is one of the most coveted awards at my place of employment. I have been wanting once since I started there four years ago, but this is the first time I have received one. Needless to say, I was pretty darn happy. We actually went out to J. Alexander's for dinner to celebrate.

In the end it turned out to be a pretty darn good day...even though my back hurts at least I am standing a little taller (if that's at all possible.)